this was a status quo election. before the election just a week or so ago we had president obama in the white house, democrats controlling the senate, and republicans controlling the house of representatives. after the election, we have president obama in the white house for another four years, democrats controlling the senate, and republicans with a majority in the house. what that tells me is the american people don't completely trust either political party to comcome up with all the he was . they want those kinds of checks and balances that divided government brings that is conducive of consultation, deliberation, negotiations, and compromise, not the kind of compromise that violates one's most fundamental principles. that would be wrong. but as one of my colleagues had told me, who -- actually, senator enzi -- i'll use him name -- from wyoming, one of the most conservative members on our side from wyoming -- he worked famously with that -- i say this with all due respect -- that liberal lion of the senate, teddy kennedy. he worked to produce legislation oust oout of the health, educat, labor, a
